Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-05

mat case was whether that particular granting
act BY Congress In that case allowed indemnity for
about $1,000 acres OF swamp lands and about
1900 acres included within an Indian reservation.
The exact phraseology Of the indemnity granted
by that act was for lands sold reserved or 9th
wise disposed Of The Commissioner held that
swamp ianos and reservations did not fall within
that language. The secretary held that they did
so fall"
REPEAL OF THE PRE-ENPT1oy LAWS RECOMMENDED.
The report makes the following suggestions rela-
tive TO land legislation: Il respectfully but ear
nestly reiterate my advice that you recommend
laws, the timber-culture acts and the relinquish-
ment acts, and add thereto the cash-entry laws
and the desertland law. Preferring q tentative
and gradual system OF reform, have hitherto sug-
gested amendments to these two latter, but the
failure OF Congress TO make such amendments,
and further experience OF the injurious effects OF
their remaining on the statute book In their pres
ent form has convinced me that all except the
homestead law should be swept from the statute
elapsed since the passage Of the homestead law
It's operations, at least during the last decade,
nave shown II TO be the wsest and most honest
method OF disposi3g OF the agricultural pubic
lands. embracing all the advantages Of the pre-
emption system without its acknowledged facili-
ties for fraud and abuse MY idea would be a short
act repeating those laws by enumeration and pro-
viding that the public land subject to disposal
should be entered exclusively under the homestead
and some other specinc laws applicable to particu-
lar sections OF the country, should be saved from
ILLEGAL ENCLOSURES OF PUBLIC LANDS
The report states that 465 illegal Enclosures of
public land by corporations and individuals en-
gagged In the cattle business on the plains have
been reported to the Department, aggregating in
area nearly ZOO 600 acres In 133 OF these cases.
ns1yng $1,000 acres sS nave zen
port the removal, complete or In progress, OF the
illegal fences throwing open TO public use and oc.
cupancy 3,:S94 600 acres. In add1ffon 1,JOO,OOO
acres OF public land in New Mexico have been re-
stored. The Secretary speaks OF the Enclosures
now being made within the railroad limits by pur-
chasing the odd-numb red sections and including
all the intervening sections. He suggests two
plans for remedying this evil The first Is to enact
6iii establishing public highway around, four
being the center OF such highways. Make this a
part OF the public land system, SO that all future
ject to this provision the second plan considered
Is through the passage OF bill TO authorize the
secretary Of the Interior TO lease the intermediate
sections OF public land TO the owners Of the ada
cent railroad sections.
PUBLIC SURVEYS AND PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.
The Secretary renews the suggestion made in his
last annual report In favor OF the enactment OF
law making false and fraudulent returns OF public
surveys penal of1ense, and providing also penal
ties for the wiilfui destruction or removal Of sur
vey1ng monuments. He c0ncurS In the recOmmen-
dalton or the Commissioner for the appropriation
Of 100000 for executing public surveys, and In
asked for by him. to Be specially devoted to the
survey OF lands within the granted and indemnity
limits OF the different land-grant railroads.
The report recommends legislation In the matter
OF private grants claimed TO be derived from the
spanish or Mexican governments, which should be
directed 10 two points: ~ TO providing for trial
and nnal determination or such claims, subject
only TO appeal to the supreme Court; C) an act Of
limitations barring the presentation OF new claims
OF this character within a stated period. The Sec
rotary Is OF the opinion that the most desirable
and effective manner OF dIsposing OF them would
be through the Land Department Provision
fa AZ. for thn yaf
the Interior, whose appeal should be flnal unless
an appeal be taken directly to the Supreme court
OF the United states
The report urges an appropriation OF $4,000 Tor
completing the survey OF the "pubIic land strip"
and that Congress should authorize the establish
ment OF a land ONCE within this strip and the
lands therein at some central and accessible point
subject 10 settlement under the homestead laws
with the Communication features eliminated. The
organization, SO that civil and criminal law may
be properly administered therein. He suggests
that Il might be made part Of the Territory of
rate Territory.
THE CONDITION OF THE INDIANS.
The report treats very fully the condition Of the
Indian tribes and states that the fve civilized
tribes OF the Indian Territory embrace popula-
ton Of about 81, OO0 the six nations Of New York
number 1859 and about II, 500 Indians are scat
tered over the public domain. or the remaining
173.6OO Indians about S. 600 wear citizens clothes
wholly and 1O,5o0 OF their children are In
expressed In his last annual report that the In.
dian race has reached crisis In its history and
that the only alternative presented is absolute ex
American civilization. The report speaks OF the
progress made in aliotting lands IN severalty to
the Indians under the recent act Of Congress and
urali2ation law for the American Indian. The re-
port recommends the compulsory education OF all
Indian youth.
PENSION RECOMMENDATIONS.
In addition TO the suggestion made by the Com
missioner Of Pensions, the Secretary states that
his attention has been called to the fact that un-
der existing laws, dependent orphan children Of
deceased soldiers, who may be entitled to pension
cannot have such pension continued beyond the
age OF sixteen, regardless OF their physical or men
tai condition. There are a few Instances In which
such children are physically and mentality ut
terry incapacitatedf for earning their own livelihood
and IN Instances where 1t is made clearly to ap-
pear that the condition OF mental mbecility or In
sanity or such feebeness or mind or body exists
as TO make these children utterly helpless for
earning their own livelihood IL seems right that
pension should be continued TO them for q longer
period. The secretary further suggests that Wild
ows who may remarry, and who may subsequently
become widows, or be divorced without fault upon
thelr part, should have their pensions revived 10
them Tor the period OF sucn second widowhoOd.
TIE INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
The report recommends that the Interstate Com
merce Commission be authorized TO report d.
rectly to the President; TO appoint its own officers
and employees. and TO draw upon the Treasury for
the payment OF the salaries or It's subordinates as
well as for all expenses incurred under the act.
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.
In regard TO the instruction Of the blind the re-
port states that during the year thirteen blind per-
sons from the District OF Columbia were under in
struction In the Maryland Institution for the
Blind, at Baltimore, admitted by authority OF this
Department, as provided In section 1850 OF the
Revised Statutes. The cost TO the Government for
each pupil Is $500 per year. The Secretary recon-
mends that the appropriation for the education OF
: RI ri Of
Columbia at Eiwyn, Pa, be increased from s., 800
TO t4,500. There are eight children now In that
institution from the District cared for by the Gov
eminent. The appropriations asked for in the an.
nual reports OF the various charitable institutions
In this city under the supervision Of the Interior
Department are favOrabiy mentioned by the Sec
rotary In his report
Liquor Licenses.
APPLICATIONS DISPOSED OF BY THE DISTRICT CON-
MtsSl0NERS.